Lachenalia jacq. f. ex Murray plant named ‘Josephine’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct form of Lachenalia plant characterized by a bulb plant type having a spreading growth habit of a height of 15-30 centimetres (cm) and width of 10-15 cm; a hyacinth-like yellow flower with maroon tip which displays very compact inflorescence; and further having a lanceolate leaf form.

Genus and species: Lachenalia Jacq. f. ex Murray.

Variety denomination: ‘Josephine’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLachenalia, botanically known as Lachenalia Jacq. f. ex Murray havingthe common name of Viooltjies/Cape cowslip and hereinafter referred toby its variety denomination ‘Josephine’.

The variety was first cultivated in 2008 and originated by means ofconventional breeding by the inventor during 2009 to 2010 at thepremises of Agricultural Research Council Vegetable and Ornamental PlantInstitute, Roodeplaat, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.

Asexual reproduction of the ‘Josephine’ plant at the same location hasshown that the unique features thereof are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety ofLachenalia which originated from the controlled pollination between aLachenalia hybrid as seed bearing parent and a Lachenalia hybrid aspollen parent as detailed hereinbelow.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics, under the local evaluation conditions, ofthe ‘Josephine’ plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish‘Josephine’ as a new and distinct Lachenalia cultivar:

-   -   1. Bulb plant type having a spreading growth habit of a height        of 15-30 centimetres (cm) and width of 10-15 cm.    -   2. Flower color: yellow (RHS #9B) with maroon (RHS #53B) tip.    -   3. Leaf form: Lanceolate.    -   4. Flower form: Hyacinth like. Infloresence very compact.

Color references are made to The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 1st edition, 1966,except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used orindicated otherwise.

Plants of the new Lachenalia variety ‘Josephine’ can be compared tosimilar denominations such as ‘Romaud’ and ‘Namakwa’ but differs in thatthe flower color and leaf form of ‘Romaud’ is greenish yellow and ovalrespectively; and that the flower form of ‘Namakwa’ is tubular with theinflorescence of the ‘Namakwa’ not being compact.

‘Romaud’ is scented, whereas ‘Josephine’ is not. The flower color of‘Josephine’ is more yellow (RHS #9B) with maroon (RHS #53B) tips with aclear green-yellow (RHS #154A) tip of the outer perianth apex segmentcompared to the more greenish yellow colour of ‘Romaud’. ‘Romaud’ alsodoes not have the maroon tips on the flowers. Both ‘Josephine’ and‘Romaud’ has compact inflorescence with many flowers although‘Josephine’ naturally grows shorter and are thus well suited for potplant production.

Although ‘Namakwa’ also has yellow flowers with reddish tips, the flowerorientation differs and the inflorescence are not nearly as compact as‘Josephine’. The yellow colour of ‘Namakwa’ is also brighter than thatof ‘Josephine’. ‘Namakwa’ has longer more tubular flowers (tips notrecurving) compared to the shorter more campanulate flowers (tipsrecurving) of ‘Josephine’. The flowers of ‘Namakwa’ have a horizontal toslightly hanging orientation compared to the horizontal orientation of‘Josephine’. These differences lead to a much more compact inflorescenceof ‘Josephine’ compared to ‘Namakwa’. ‘Namakwa’ tends to extend a longerpeduncle again contributing to a much less compact growth form comparedto ‘Josephine’.

‘Josephine’ thus has the brighter colours of ‘Namakwa’ but the morecompact growth form of ‘Romaud’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The first drawing illustrates the overall appearance of the ‘Josephine’,showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain incolored reproductions of this type. The first drawing comprises a frontperspective view of a typical ‘Josephine’ grown in an indoor nursery.

The second drawing illustrates the overall appearance of the‘Josephine’, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in colored reproductions of this type. The second drawingcomprises a front perspective view of a typical ‘Josephine’ grown in anindoor nursery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned drawings, following observations and measurementsdescribe ‘Josephine’ grown by the inventor on behalf of AgriculturalResearch Council Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Roodeplaat,Pretoria, Republic of South Africa. Thereafter ‘Josephine’ was madesubject of a South African Plant Breeders' Right application in March2009. This application was granted in 2010 under number ZA20104394.

The plant may be used for landscaping and should be planted during themonth of March; indoors and in pots only. The plant should be kept attemperatures of 20-25 degrees Celsius during the day and 10-15 degreesCelsius at night. Plenty of light should be provided.

‘Josephine’ is a naturally short hyacinth-like cultivar. It is early tointermediate flowering and has an excellent keeping quality.

‘Josephine’ is a hybrid-hybrid cross containing the following Lachenaliaspecies: Lachenalia orchioides subsp. glaucina, Lachenalia bulbifera,Lachenalia quadricolor, Lachenalia aloides.

The specific ‘Josephine’ parentage is as follows:

Female parent has the following crossing history—([L. aloides x L.rubida] x [L. aloides x L. rubida]) x (L. aloides x L. aloides)

Male parent has the following crossing history—([L. orchioides x L.aloides] x [L. orchioides x L. aloides]).

The female parent (GenBank accession number 1994/153/021) has greenerflowers, but with the same flower orientation and compact growth as‘Josephine’. The male parent (GenBank accession number 1993/116/003) isa Lachenalia aloides intra species hybrid with plain bright yellowhanging bell shaped flowers, with widely recurving tips. The male parentis fairly compact, but very different from the more hyacinth-likeinflorescence of ‘Josephine’. The male parent has plain yellow flowerswhereas ‘Josephine’ has the combination colored flowers (yellow (RHS#9B) and maroon (RHS #53B)). The flower orientation is also clearlydifferent, with ‘Josephine’ having more horizontal flowers and the maleparent having hanging flowers. Flowers of the male parent are longerthan those of ‘Josephine’.

‘Josephine’ was originally produced sexually from a cross between thetwo hybrids mentioned above. A specific seedling with number 2000/40/93was selected from this cross and thereafter asexually propagated. Theasexual progeny of this seedling is the cultivar ‘Josephine’ and wasmultiplied via tissue culture at the premises of Agricultural ResearchCouncil Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Roodeplaat, Pretoria,Republic of South Africa.

The following characteristics of ‘Josephine’ are described withreference to description of said characteristic which are comparablewith the mentioned variety/ies having said similar characteristic.

-   Leaf: Monocolored.

Variety having Description of similar Characteristic: ‘Josephine’:characteristics: Attitude Semi-erect ‘Romaud’ Length Long: 14.6 cm‘Lizette’, ‘Romaud’, ‘Romelia’ Width Medium: 2.4 cm ‘Rosabeth’ Ratiolength:width Medium: 6:1 ‘Romaud’ Shape Lanceolate ‘Rodelein’ ColorLight green (RHS ‘Romelia’ #141C) Leaf color designation for Light green(RHS lower sides of the leaf #141C) Shape in cross-section Angular‘Robyn’, ‘Romelia’ Recurving of margin Present ‘Romaud’ Undulation ofmargin Absent ‘Romelia’ Pubescence of upper side Absent ‘Rodelein’,‘Rosabeth’ Blistering of upper side Absent ‘Rodelein’, ‘Rosabeth’ Spotson upper side Present ‘Bontrok; ‘Roinge’, ‘Rosabeth’ Number of spots perleaf Amount differs from plant to plant, no exact number of spots perleaf Color of spots on upper side Greenish (RHS #138A) Size of spots onupper side Medium (2-3 ‘Robyn’, ‘Roinge’ millimeter (mm)) Density ofspots on upper side Medium ‘Roinge’, ‘Rosabeth’ Intensity of color ofspots on Light ‘Romaud’ upper side Markings on outer side of leaf Absent‘Rodelein’ base

-   Peduncle:

Variety having Description of similar Characteristic: ‘Josephine’:characteristics: Length Short (15 cm) ‘Rolene’, Romaud’ Peduncle colordesignation Purplish (RHS #53B) with green (RHS #141D) Spots or markingsPresent ‘Bontrok; ‘Rosabeth’ Coloration of peduncle spots Green (RHS#141D) Size of spots or markings Medium (2-3 mm) ‘Robyn’ Density ofspots or markings Sparse, close to ‘Robekkie’ each other: spots may beas close as 0.2 mm, but may differ

-   Bud:

Characteristic: Description of ‘Josephine’: Color Pink (RHS #67C)

-   Inflorescence:

Variety having Description of similar Characteristic: ‘Josephine’:characteristics: Length Short (12 cm) ‘Bontrok’ Rudimentary apexInconspicuous ‘Rosabeth’ Number of flowers Many (40+ ‘Romaud’, ‘Sonni’flowers)

-   Flower:

Variety having Description of similar Characteristic: ‘Josephine’:characteristics: Description of floral organs Inflorescence containingindividual bell- shaped flowers attached with pedicels to the pedunclePredominant color: Yellow (RHS ‘Romaud’, ‘Ronette’ #9B) Intensity ofpredominant color: Strong ‘Romelia’, ‘Winseme’ Inner perianth segment:color Clearly different ‘Louis’, ‘Roinge’ of margin of apex relative toother part Attitude: Horizontal to pendulous Flower length: Short: 1.9cm ‘Rodelein’ Pedicel: Present ‘Romelia’ Pedicel length: Medium (2-3 mm)‘Bontrok; ‘Louis’ Flower diameter excluding Small to medium: apex: 0.6cm Flower diameter at apex: Medium: 1.3 cm ‘Ronita’ Flower attitude ofdistal part of Spreading ‘Rozanne’ inner perianth segments: Flowerglossiness: Absent Outer perianth segment: color Yellow (RHS #9C ofbasal part just before of RHS color opening of flower: chart, 2ndedition, 1986) Outer perianth segment: color Yellow (RHS of basal partof fully opened #13A of RHS flower: color chart, 2nd edition, 1986)Outer perianth segment: color Clearly different ‘Ronette’ of apexrelative to other part: Outer perianth segment: color Green-yellow‘Bontrok; Leipoldt, of apex relative to other part: (RHS #154A) ‘Roinge’Inner perianth segment: Absent ‘Bontrok’ distinct spot in middle ofapex: Inner perianth segment: color Clearly different ‘Louis’, ‘Roinge’of margin of apex relative to other part: Inner perianth segment: colorPale purple (RHS ‘Rozanne’ of margin of apex relative to #61C) otherpart: Inner perianth segment: Yellow (RHS #9A predominant color ofexposed of RHS color part (excluding differently chart, 2nd edition,colored margin of apex) 1986) Length of inner perianth Longer ‘Roinge’,‘Rosabeth’ segment compared to outer segments Extrusion of stamensPresent ‘Louis’, ‘Rolene’ Fragrance Absent ‘Romelia’ Bulb: predominantshape Oblate ‘Romaud’ Time of flowering Early - flowering ‘Celia’,‘Lizelle’, time vary from ‘Sonni’ May to June (Southern Hemisphere)Duration of flowering Long (up to 2 ‘Romelia’, months) ‘Rosabeth’

-   Others:

Characteristic: Description of ‘Josephine’: Description of the bulbCream/white (color designation - RHS including size and color of the#158B) bulb at maturity Size: between 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter Time ofleaf growth/bud burst Starts within the first week of watering (normallyMarch/April in Southern Hemisphere A description of any fruit and Noseed or fruit seed set Timing of leaf senescence After flowering hascompleted and starts to die down, the leaves start to die off (wheatcolor) and plant dry out (September-October in Southern Hemisphere)

The variety is not genetically modified and has been tested to be freeof Ornithogalum Mosaic Virus.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lachenaliaplant named ‘Josephine’ as illustrated and described herein.